You Can Help CPS Children in the New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope 2014 is starting out well for you and yours. I can tell you the Kuhlman Five sure spent a lot time together over the Winter Break and extended school “cold days.” When we weren't sick (with colds, strep) we enjoyed being with our extended family and great friends. We agonized over the Bears playoff loss and skated many hours on the backyard rink.

Now it’s back to reality and I’ve got my eye on a new project. I’m hoping that you, my friends and colleagues, might be interested in it too. Below is a letter I’m emailing out to some associates over the next few days. Read on and if you could take some action yourself, I’d be so appreciative.

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It’s difficult for me to imagine what it must be like to be a Chicago Public School student or parent who lives in a neighborhood known for violence. Fear while walking to or from school and grave safety concerns while playing in a local park are issues I don’t have to dwell on. But if you’re like me, when you watch heart-wrenching, violent stories impacting Chicago children on the evening news you may wonder what you could do to help.

I’m now presenting you with that opportunity.

StudentsXpress is a quarterly newsmagazine that gives children from all types of Chicago neighborhoods a peaceful, creative and inspiring venue to express themselves through art and writing. The magazine has run five successful issues over the last two years but is in need of funding to continue its expansion efforts.

Chicago Tribune columnist Heidi Stevens recently covered this venture and the caring woman who started StudentsXpress, Rachel Switall. The story touched me greatly and I knew I had to jump in with both feet to help.

StudentsXpress expanded to a print run of 40,000 for its last issue-- enriching more children’s lives than ever before. But right now, the publication does not have a sponsor for its Spring issue and the deadline is fast approaching. Without enough funding, they may need to reduce instead of expand their print run. $4,500 is what it will take for Rachel to print the Spring run at 40,000 issues.

Could your company help with by underwriting the Spring issue or making a donation?  Could you personally donate to this outstanding effort? 

Here are just a few of the benefits StudentsXpress brings to Chicago Public School children:

• Promotes Creativity & Literacy

• Serves as an enrichment program for children in underserved communities

• Provides a means for students to express themselves productively

• Builds self-esteem: when children see their work, their NAME in print, they gain confidence in their abilities

• Highlights positive role models: when students read about positive things going on in the city, they see what is possible for them

• Expands students’ world beyond their neighborhood: allows children to see how others in different neighborhoods feel about the same topic

• Opens up discussions: reading others’ opinions allows students to think of things in a way they may not have considered

• Builds critical thinking: as they write and draw about a particular topic and as they read what others write about that same topic

• Crosses economic and racial borders: children can freely express themselves and read about others who might feel the same way, while at the same time celebrating their differences in a productive, educational way

• Each issue serves as a way to support our children and offer them hope for the future

Thank you for your consideration and here’s a link to all the advertising and sponsorship details. 

Please contact me with any questions!